Building Setbacks & Zoning in Lima, OH (2026)
3 verified building setbacks & zoning rules for Lima, Ohio, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Setback Rules
In Lima's residential districts the front building line sits back from the street a distance equal to twenty percent of lot depth, but not less than thirty feet, and rear yards must be at least fifteen percent of lot depth, under Codified Ordinances 1248.08 and 1248.06.
Building Setback Rules in Lima
Some RestrictionsLima C.O. 1248.08
On property fronting on any street, a line which is back of the street line a distance equal to twenty percent of the average or normal depth of the lot, provided such distance is not less than thirty feet, shall be the building line for such street frontage.
Structure Height Limits
Lima regulates maximum building height through its Height Districts (Chapter 1258, Sections 1258.01-1258.02) applied over each zoning district. Accessory buildings are separately limited, and rear-yard depth must equal at least half the height of buildings taller than 2.5 stories.
Building Height Limits in Lima
Some RestrictionsLima C.O. 1248.06
However, in the case of any building more than two and one-half stories in height, such least dimension shall not be less than one-half the height of the building. Such least dimension need not be more than twenty-five feet in any case.
Lot Coverage Limits
Lima controls residential density by lot area rather than a flat coverage percentage: Class I requires 4,800 sq ft per family (interior lot), Class II requires 2,400 sq ft, and Class III requires 1,200 sq ft, under Codified Ordinance 1260.01.
Lot Coverage and Density in Lima
Some RestrictionsLima C.O. 1260.01
In a Class I Residential District no building shall be erected or altered to accommodate or make provision for more than one family for each 4,800 square feet of the area of an interior lot or for each 3,600 square feet of a corner lot.
Looking for Allen County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Lima city rules.
Building Setbacks & Zoning in Allen County →